Ethnic skins : a specific consultation

A specialized dermatological consultation can seem confusing, but there is evidence that “ethnic” skins have proper particularities that can effectively lead unprepared practicioners to provide distorted diagnostics or treatments.

For instance, dark or black skins may develop physiological specificities, proper aspects that could be confused with a pathology (complexion inhomogeneity, demarcation lines, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation…).

There are also pathological variants; for example, the most classic form of skin disease  can be interpreted differently on a black skin. Well informed-eyes would deliver the right diagnosis (for example, redness will have a dark brown colour).

Moreover, some pathologies are specific to ethnic skins or can statistically be more frequent ; A case in point is dermal dyschromia (skin pigmentary disorder), prominent scars (hypertrophic or keloid scars), or hair or fuzzy-hair linked pathologies (ingrown hairs, beard pseudofollicilitis, keloid acne on the neck…).

Therefore, the treatment process can differ. The use of corticoids on Eczema can locally brighten the skin complexion, whereas an irritating cream for acne can cause the skin to become darker locally. All these parameters can complexify the setting up of a treatment protocol.

For the purpose of delivering dedicated dermatological procedures to everyone (for all ages combined, and every type of skins, Asian, olive skins or black skins) the CLIPP decided to launch the very first “Ethnic Skins” Dermatological Consultation in our Clinique, lead by Dr Marie JOURDAN, Dermatologist (Note : since 2013, Dr Marie JOURDAN is in charge of the very first “Ethnic Skins” dedicated consultation in Tenon Hospital in Ile-de-France Region).